Whenever I get a pushchair to review I always crack on with some serious Googling to see what others think. I don’t do this to inform my review in any way, I just like to see if there are any smart features that they’ve spotted and I haven’t. On doing this I was shocked to discover that the BOB Revolution SE hasn’t had much press here in the UK. I know it’s a pretty popular brand in the States, but for some reason us Brits just haven’t got onboard in quite the same way. I can’t for the life of me think why.

This pushchair has gone down a storm here - especially with Craig. It’s a very sophisticated pushchair with the best steering we’ve come across to date. Of course, with a new baby on the way we did have our reservations about whether it could serve us well given we’ll need a twin for a few months - but it’s now become our sole singlet for getting Dexter from A to B and we can’t imagine life without it.

So what has made us sell our much-loved Graco Evo, and super lightweight Maclaren XT Turbo, and join the BOB Revolution (see what I did there?)?

Look, Quality and Comfort

To kick off - it’s made from aircraft grade aluminum giving it a quality finish and making it supremely sturdy. Surprisingly it still remains super lightweight. Having said this, I can certainly still see the benefit of investing in an umbrella pop stroller for holidays (these are far easier to chuck around and check-in as luggage), but for everyday life these are more trouble than they are worth. They tip under the slightest weight of a change bag and aren’t suitable for trekking, running or off-road trips. Although admittedly, this pregnant and gym-phobic mumma isn’t likely to be competing in an Iron Woman Comp anytime soon, I can definitely appreciate everything the BOB has to offer.

It certainly looks outdoorsy. The material is water-repellant and tough-wearing, and the seat is ergonomic and incredibly well padded. The multi-position reclining seat is also far wider than conventional joggers (at 37cm it’s 2cm more than many of its rivals) but as this is positioned over the wheels rather than between, the overall width of the pushchair is not affected. This has led to us lovingly referring to it as ‘The Tank’.

There’s tons of room for a fidgety toddler and it’ll support weight of up to 70lbs. I’ve heard some niggles about the head height on the BOB but I have to disagree with this. The hood is big and does gather at the tip of the pushchair seat BUT there are handy pull cords to tuck these away. When the canopy is fully extended it provides great sun coverage and there are additional accessories available to improve this even further. The parent window is also really generous (and has a little flap to block out the sun when you’re satisfied baby is happy), there’s even a gap between the pushchair head rest and frame that can be left exposed to allow air circulation, or sealed up when it’s windy - it’s all in the detail with this bad boy.

Off-roading

This is where the BOB Revolution SE comes into its own. Its front swivel wheel is incredibly sensitive and you can happily steer one-handed around crowds or tight corners. This is also lockable should you want to rock baby to sleep, jog in a straight line or take your workout to tougher terrain. This wheel is also trackable so you can ensure it remains at a constant straight line - just use the tracking knob when the wheel is in the locked position to correct it if it should start to veer off to the left or right. This went down well with Craig as it’s something else to fiddle with.

The adjustable suspension system is also pretty special. It remains super firm on roads and other even surfaces, but can also comfortably absorb the impact of rough terrain. Craig’s played with this in the fields surrounding our home and reports that Dexter appears to be having a comfortable ride.

The handle bars are well padded with plenty of chunky foam. Okay, it has a bar rather than separate handles (less great for handbags and shopping) - but it does mean it’s nice and comfy for long walks, and offers great control if you begin to sweat. While the handle bar is not height adjustable, it is a comfortable height for the majority of people (Craig is 6ft 3 and finds it the comfiest stroller he’s comes across). The handlebar sticks out too so tall parents won’t kick the back while taking long strides.

There’s also a big red foot-activated rear wheel parking brake that’s easy to snap on and off and feels really secure when you’re on an incline. As with most joggers, there’s also a safety wrist strap on the handlebar for further peace of mind.

Obviously if you’re using a jogger off-road regularly, you’ll need to clean it. The BOB features quick-release wheels for this purpose (which is also handy for transportation if you have a smaller car boot). There are also double-sealed wheel bearings to keep out dirt and minimise resistance.

Folding and Transporting

Collapsing the BOB is easy. It features an easy two-step folding mechanism and folds down to an impressive 38″ x 24″ x 16″. If you want to see it in action, head on BOBgear UK on YouTube for instructional videos and ideas for integrating the BOB into your exercise regime.

Suitable from Birth?

Yes and no. It’s not advised to run with any child until around 6 months, or until they can support their own head with ease. You should also be very cautious when taking tiny tiddlers out on rough terrain. Dexter is 22 months now so obviously this isn’t a problem but I would say I wouldn’t have felt comfortable physically running with him until he was 8-9 months

Source: BOBgear.couk (a stock photo as we haven’t bought the adapters yet)

This doesn’t stop you using your BOB Revolution from birth though. Car seat adapters are available for £20 and support all BRITAX and BOB Gear car seats (I’ve spotted the US version supports more brands so hopefully that capability is soon to be available here). When using a car seat, baby will be parent facing and at a great height thanks to the large chassis and wheels. Impressively, you can still use the integrated sun canopy and parent window when using a car seat - I haven’t come across any other pushchair that can do this.

Anything else?

• The basket is very generous for a three wheeler. Admittedly we’ve been spoilt with the Graco Evo which boasts a huge basket, but the BOB is more than fit for purpose.
• There’s additional storage within the seat itself with two mesh pockets on either side of your child, and a further mini pocket on the back of the seat.

• There are tons of extras available including snack trays, cup holders and the most awesome little parent console that sits atop the handlebars. This is typical of pushchairs and travel systems in the BRITAX family.
• As with all BRITAX strollers, there’s also a five point harness which considered the safest harness system available.

Any Cons?

Of course. No pushchair is perfect and you have to thoroughly road-test them before committing to buy. The BOB Revolution SE won’t be for everyone but it is right for us.

The only thing I’d point out before you rush to buy, is that it’s a big boy. With it’s super generous proportions and (albeit detachable) big wheels, you couldn’t park in your hallway and move around it comfortably. We have under-the-stairs storage in our home which means we can pop it out of the way, but if you’re limited on space, this could put you off. It’s also well worth ensuring you can get it in your car boot. We have a 5 door Ford Focus and it fits in if you take off one wheel every time you pop it in - this doesn’t bother us, but may be problematic for others.

Price and Availability

Tellingly, the BOB Revolution SE is only available to buy at selected retailers - mostly selected Mothercare stores. Online, there are a few different places to go, but the stockists aren’t all familiar to me. This is perhaps why you won’t see many, if any, out and about in your local town centre.

It has an RRP of £405 but of course, there are deals available if you shop around. This puts it firmly in the higher-end bracket of strollers on the market, seconded only by the Bugaboos, Stokkes, Quinnys and OBabys of this world. In my opinion it’s worth every penny. Having owned a Quinny, OBaby, Graco, and iCandy before now, it beats the hell out of them.

There are 5 different colourways to choose from too - navy, plum, red, orange and black. Mine is black but most of the fabric is actually grey and this will be the case whichever colour you opt for. I actually love the fact it’s two tone but it’s worth checking out the website before deciding.

There we go! I hope you’ve find this review helpful and I’m more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Hope to see more of you wheeling one of these babies around soon! For a full spec, you can pop on over to BobGear.co.uk, or ask the guys at BRITAX on Twitter or Facebook.

Disclaimer: I’m a BRITAX Mumbassador which is why I’ve received my gorgeous BOB Revolution SE in exchange for my thoughts. I raved on a little but for very good reason